"Dear, we've arrived."
Inside a typical Chevrolet sedan, Mrs. Sevrid looked at her daughter and reminded her, "Be careful getting out, don't get your dress dirty."
Amanda Sevrid flashed a charming dimple as she replied, "I know, Mom."
Opening the car door, Amanda Sevrid stepped out, feeling a bit uncomfortable in her semi-high pointed shoes. She took a few steps back and forth, trying to adjust to the shoes quickly.
Mrs. Sevrid closed the car door and walked over to Amanda. "Stand still, let me take a look," she said.
Amanda stood straight with her hands behind her back.
Mrs. Sevrid took out a nude lipstick and lightly applied it to Amanda's lips. Stepping back a few paces, she inspected her daughter from head to toe.
"Looks good! Beautiful, lovely, absolutely stunning," she exclaimed.
"Are we ready, Mom?" Amanda asked impatiently.
"We're all set," Mrs. Sevrid beckoned, "Let's head to the hotel."
Hand in hand, mother and daughter made their way to the hotel where the banquet was being held.
As they walked, Amanda curiously asked, "Is 'The Witch of Blair' Ronan's movie? Was it successful because of him? Why don't media reports mention him much... uh, what's the name of that director?"
"Danny Malek," Mrs. Sevrid replied.
Entering the hotel, Amanda lowered her voice and continued, "Everyone seems to be talking about this Danny Malek. It's like nobody associates 'The Witch of Blair' with Ronan. His company is rarely mentioned."
Mrs. Sevrid was also puzzled. "I'm not sure why," she said, running her hand through her daughter's naturally curly blonde hair. "Ronan is hosting this party; it's bound to be beneficial."
"The movie made over $150 million in North America alone. How much do you think Ronan Anderson will make from it? Tens of millions of dollars? And with 'The Purge' as well, how much has he earned from these two movies?"
For a moment, Mrs. Sevrid's mind was filled with numbers.
Guided by the waiter, they arrived at a grand banquet hall. Mrs. Sevrid announced their names and they were allowed inside.
Once inside, Mrs. Sevrid immediately noticed that it was not just an ordinary dinner event but more like an upscale gathering. She exchanged greetings with a few people she knew from the cast and crew of "The Purge" before quickly locating where Ronan was.
Ronan was surrounded by many people, making it difficult for Mrs. Sevrid to approach. So, she stood on the periphery with Amanda, waiting for an opportune moment.
The way people looked at Ronan was anything but normal. It was as if they could emit laser beams from their eyes, though Mrs. Sevrid, relying on years of social experience, could vaguely sense that what they displayed was admiration.
They seemed genuinely impressed by Ronan.
Thinking about it, Mrs. Sevrid couldn't help but admire Ronan's ability to oversee the success of two consecutive movies and create box office miracles. One of them even grossed over $100 million in North America alone. How could people not be impressed?
After a while, when the crowd around Ronan thinned out, Mrs. Sevrid led Amanda over.
"Mr. Anderson," Mrs. Sevrid said warmly, "Congratulations on another box office success."
"Thank you," Ronan politely responded.
Amanda Sevrid stepped forward with a sweet smile. "Good evening, Ronan."
"Good evening, Amanda," Ronan returned the smile. "Oh, you've grown taller and even more beautiful."
Amanda laughed happily.
Turning to Mrs. Sevrid, Ronan exchanged pleasantries for a few moments before glancing at Amanda again. They hadn't seen each other for over half a year, and the young girl had clearly matured. Most notably were the small bumps she had on her forehead, probably from the last time they met at the airport.
Although she hadn't grown much taller, she seemed to have excellent proportions. Thinking about the Amanda Sevrid from her previous life, she was a petite beauty.
Dressed in a floral dress, Amanda already resembled her former self.
With fair and delicate skin, a petite figure, a slightly tender voice, and seaweed-like curly golden hair, she exuded a fresh and pastoral aura with every move, like a fairy or a soft girl growing up in a backyard garden.
Seeing another woman approaching Ronan with a drink, Amanda muttered, "Don't be too proud of yourself, you'll stumble one day!"
"What did you say?" Mrs. Sevrid didn't catch Amanda's murmuring.
Amanda immediately turned into a good girl. "I didn't see Michelle," she said.
Mrs. Sevrid knew she was referring to Michelle Williams, who had worked together with them on "The Purge." "She probably didn't come," she replied.
Leaving the crowd, Mrs. Sevrid led Amanda through the crowd, making small talk with the director James Wong and exchanging jokes with Robert Lee and George Clint, trying to get to know as many people as possible.
Feeling a bit bored by her mother's side, Amanda asked for a glass of water from the waiter and took a moment to relax, especially her feet, which were sore from wearing semi-high heels.
"Ronan is amazing, more than you've seen," the woman speaking caught Amanda's attention. She had seen her when she delivered cakes to Sahara Entertainment, the receptionist. She seemed to admire Ronan a lot. "In Hollywood, among people of the same age, Ronan is outstanding!"
Adding to the conversation was a man. "Although Embassy Pictures was acquired by Mr. Anderson not long ago, the success of 'The Witch of Blair' is something I deeply admire. Mr. Anderson dares to think and dares to act, and he can make it happen. The previous three bosses combined couldn't match half of Mr. Anderson's achievements."
Amanda could tell this man was probably an employee of the company Ronan recently acquired.
A few days ago, Amanda had heard her mother mention that Ronan had acquired a distribution company, which should be this Embassy Pictures.
Hearing people talk about Ronan in this way, Amanda's gaze shifted to Ronan again. Wasn't he just a few years older than her? Yet he commanded such genuine admiration from so many people.
Incredible.
Then her gaze fell on the fierce-looking woman again. She seemed to be approaching Ronan to have a drink.
Amanda muttered to herself once more, "Don't be too proud of yourself; you'll stumble one day!"
In the center of the banquet hall, Jessica Felton raised her glass to Ronan. "Congratulations, the plan worked."
Ronan noticed her hand holding the glass tremble slightly and quickly reminded her, "Careful, don't spill it on your clothes."
Jessica Felton steadied her hand. "I don't know why, but I always seem to spill food and drinks."
"Maybe it's because you've been using the splicer and joiner for a long time," Ronan speculated suddenly. "Being cooped up at home practicing your craft can lead to fatigue. Your right hand, being your dominant hand, might not feel it during regular times, but muscle fatigue becomes evident when you're holding things, causing instability in your wrist."
Jessica Felton pondered for a moment and said, "Your analysis makes sense."
Ronan continued, "It's important to strike a balance between work and rest. By the way, Jessica, your editing work is excellent. You played a significant role in the success of 'The Witch Blair.'"
"Too bad the shots were poorly taken," Jessica Felton said confidently. "Otherwise, I could have done an even better job."
She suddenly changed the subject and asked, "I saw a photo of you with a supermodel in the newspaper recently, saying you two are in a relationship? Have you moved on from being single so quickly?"
"Don't mention it," Ronan waved his hand dismissively. "Bringing it up only brings sadness."
Not one to pry, Jessica Felton didn't pursue further and said, "You'll find the right one eventually."
Ronan shook his head, "I've already decided. I'm dedicating the rest of my life to my greatest passion."
"That's the way to go!" Jessica Felton wholeheartedly agreed with Ronan's sentiment. "Everything else is secondary; only the skills you possess can accompany you throughout your life."
Unable to respond to the perspective of someone who values technical prowess and ability over relationships, Ronan changed the topic, "About what we discussed last time, have you thought about it?"
"About becoming a producer? I've been reading books on the subject, and I've consulted with mentors," Jessica Felton replied. "My mentor provided me with a lot of information, and after going through it, I realized that being a producer is also a profession that requires a lot of technical knowledge."
Ronan added, "Managing the overall picture is more challenging than just editing."
"Makes sense," Jessica Felton nodded. "I plan to delve into it further."
Just as Ronan was about to say something else, he noticed Daniel Malick walking over from the opposite direction.
This was the celebration party for "The Witch Blair," and the Embassy Entertainment had sent invitations to the main creators of the film. However, only Daniel Malick seemed to have come.